Handle and operating lever assembly for flushing tanks



Feb. 25, 1941. CRAMPTON 2,233,159

HANDLE AND OPERATING LEVER ASSEMBLY FOR FLUSHING TANKS Filed July 7, 1939 INVENTOR.

1525/75. 6/0/27 for? BY WMW ATTORNEYS l6 Z0 ZZ .77 j /7/ 24 Patented Feb. 25, 1941 PATENT OFFICE HANDLE AND OPERATING LEVER ASSEMBLY FOR FLUSHING TANKS Basil a. Crampton, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application July '1, 1939, Serial No. 283,142

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in handle and operating lever assembly for flushin tanks.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a novel handle and actuating lever assembly for a flushing tank.

Second, to provide an assembly of the type described which is simple, compact, and sturdy, aglik. capable of being readily mounted on the t Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is deflned in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating conventional ball valve provisions of a flushing tank with the assembly of my invention operatively associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating details of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section on line 2-3 of Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line H of Fig. 3, illustrating further the construction of my device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the' escutcheon element of the assembly.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view somewhat similar to Fig. 5, illustrating details of construction of a modified embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a view in section on line 1-1 of Fig. 6, further illustrating details of the aforesaid modifled embodiment.

The present invention relates to an operating handle and lever for a flushing tank, being particularly designed for such an installation, although it will be apparent that the assembly of my invention has utility in connection with other installations wherein a handle-operated, oscillating actuating lever having limited movement is employed. The present construction is one which is simple in its parts and economical, although very sturdy and quite unlikely to become damaged or inoperative when once installed.

In particular, the assembly includes a novel mounting escutcheon having means coacting with an oscillatable handle element to limit the extent of the oscillation thereof, the foregoing provisions being of such a nature as to be capable of being readily and quickly installed on the usual flushing tank and to enable the handle to be. accurately positioned on the latter.

In the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates a flushing tank of well known type having conventional flushing provisions assembled therewith in the form of an outlet 2 controlled by a ball valve I which in turn is actuated through 5 the articulated links 4 by an actuating lever 5. An overflow pipe 8 communicates with the outlet beneath the valve seat at the top of the latter, a guide 8| for the lowermost link being clamped on the tube.

The actuating lever 5 is preferably of brass of generally rectangular relatively flat section and it is actuated from the exterior of the tank by means of a suitable handle I, the mounting of which on the said actuating lever constitutes one 15 feature of the present invention.

The reference numeral 8 indicates in general a hollow mounting fixture or escutcheon member having a head 9 provided with an annular flange 9| having the laterally projecting lugs l0 spaced from one another at equal distances around the head. The aforesaid member 8 has adjacent and behind the head thereof a rectangular base I2 adapted to fit in a similarly shaped recess IS in the wall ofthe flushing tank I to prevent rota tion of the escutcheon on the wall. The escutcheon terminates rearwardly of this base l2 in a threaded sleeve or barrel H adapted to receive a rubber sealing washer l5 and a threaded lock nut l8 to hold the said member 8 in place on the tank. The member 8 has a cylindrical bore I! through which the offset end l8 of the actuating lever 5 extends.

This end 18 of the lever or arm is received in an elongated or relatively deep handle socket I9 of cross sectional shape similar to that of the actuating lever, this socket being formed in a centrally positioned boss 20 integral with the operating handle I. The handle is preferably formed by a die casting operation, to provide these structural features.

The aforesaid boss is out back at 2| adjacent an outer annular skirt 22 integral with the handle to allow the annular flange SI of the member 8 to be telescopingly and rotatively received in said skirt 22 with the integral web 22! connecting the .boss and skirt received between a pair of the lugs III, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, and serving as a stop member determining the extent of the relative angular movement between the handle and escutcheon.

The lever extension l8, disposed in the handle socket I! as described, is connected rigidly to the handle, preferablyby upsetting, indenting or swaging the side of the boss at 23, see Fig. 3,

the extension l8 being preferably provided with a notch 23l at the appropriate point, and in order to prevent endwise movement of the extension l8 relative to the member 8 and flushing tank wall I provide a thimble-shaped ferrule 24 of brass, which loosely encircles the end of the threaded sleeve or barrel l4 and has an elongated aperture therein through which the lever extension extends. It should be noted that the end of the barrel receiving the ferrule is reduced in diameter so that with the ferrule in place the lock nut l8 may be slipped directly over the extension 18 and barrel to clamp the assembly to wall I. The extension l8 has an integral lug or tongue 25 struck out therein and engaging ferrule 24 to prevent endwise movement thereof and to maintain the axial relation of the parts described.

Rotative movement of the handle 1 relative to the mounting fixture is determined by the engagement of the integral side web 22l between ad- Jacent stationary limit lugs Hi. This movement of the handle, though small, is adequate to cause unseating of the ball valve 3, the extremes of movement of the handle and lever being illustrated in dotted and solid lines, respectively, in Fig. 1. Although in use it is apparent that only two of the lugs iii are engaged by the oscillating handle as illustrated in Fig. 4, the other two thereof serve to increase the guiding surface for the annular handle skirt 22 during oscillation of thehandle, and strengthen and render the assembly more resistant to distortion or Jamming than would be the case if only the continuous relatively short flange 9| on the head 9 were relied on for this purpose.

In assembling the above described structure, the upset or struck-out tongue 25 is formed on,

the handle extension l8, after which the thimblelike ferrule 24 is slipped on the extension into engagement with the tongue. The escutcheon barrel is then telescoped on the extension with the reduced end of the barrel inserted within the thimble-like ferrule and the handle is located on the escutcheon with the skirt 22 encircling the annular flange 9|. With the parts in this relation, the handle is clamped to the'extension I 'by upsetting at 23 as described, this operation I being enabled by the provision of a notch or opening 28 in the handle skirt for the insertion of a suitable upsetting tool. The assembly of the device is then completed save for the fitting of the washer i5 and lock nut it, which opera tion is of course performed when the handle is mounted on the flushing tank wall, it being only necessary to slip the washer and nut on the barrel and thread the nut in-to locking position on the latter.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I illustrate a modified embodimeant of my invention, wherein the projecting stop lugs iii are omitted, the mounting fixture or escutcheon member 8! having merely a fiat plate or disk 82 exposed on the exterior of the fiushing tank wall. This escutcheon member and the threaded barrel 83 extendingrearwardly thereof are provided with an axial non-circular recess 84 instead of the circular recess illustrated in Figs.

trated in dotted lines.

1 to 5, inclusive. This recess 84 extends entirely through the barrel and is preferably laterally restricted at a medial point 85 so that when the lever extension I8 is received therein in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7, the angular movement of the lever extension is limited from the position illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 7 to that illus- In' other respects, the escutcheon member and barrel are similar and include the reduced end 88 to receive'a ferrule 24 similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

It is apparent that in the last described embodiment the angular movement of thehandle and the lever extension I8 is governed by engagement of the latter with the side walls of the recess l4 and that the necessity for the provision of axially extending stop lugs I0 is eliminated. The handle is secured to the lever extension I! in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 and in all other respects, save the differences discussed above, the two embodiments are identical both as to construction and manner of assembly. I

art that recesses or openings similar to that il-.

lustrated in Fig. 6 might be formed only at one or both ends of the escutcheon member or barrel so long as a coaction with the lever extension l8 similar to that illustrated in Fig. 7 were possible.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in embodiments which are very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A handle assembly for the flush valve actu-' ating lever of a flushing tank comprising a hollow mounting fixture extending through said flushing tank, and means for securing the fixture in fixed relation to the tank including a non-circular element on the fixture engageable in a'similarly shaped recess in the tank and a nut threaded on the fixture to clamp the same to the tank, said fixture having a plurality of laterally extending lugs integral therewith on the exterior of the tank, a handle rotatable on said fixture and receiving the actuating lever in non-rotative relation thereto, said actuating lever extending shaped recess in the tank and a nut threaded'on the fixture to clamp the same to the tank, a handle rotatable on said fixture and receiving the actuating lever in non-rotative relation thereto, said actuating lever extending through said hollow fixture, coacting means on the handle and fixture to limit the angular movement of the handle on the fixture, and means disposed interiorly of the tank for preventing axial separation of the handle, fixture and lever.

3. An actuating assembly for the valveofa flushing tank comprising a hollow mounting fixture provided with means for mounting on a flushing tank, said fixture terminating in a cylindrical flange-like head notched to provide spaced stops, a chambered handle member oscillatingly mounted on said head and provided with a cenltrally disposed boss having an inwardly opening socket of non-circular cross section, said boss having a portion disposed between said stops to limit. the movement of the handle on the mounting fixture, and an actuating lever of non-circular cross section having a laterally disposed shank portion arranged through said mounting fixture to oscillate'therein and extending into said socket in said boss, the socket having a cross sectional shape and area which corresponds to that of the lever, the walls of said boss being upset to clamp said lever shank therein.

4. An actuating assembly for thev valve of a flushing tank comprising a hollow mounting fixture provided with means for mounting on a flushing tank, said fixture terminating in a cylindrical flange-like head, a chambered handle member oscillatingly mounted on said head and provided with a centrally disposed boss having an inwardly opening socket of non-circular cross section, and an actuating lever of non-circular cross section having a laterally disposed shank portion arranged through said mounting fixture to oscillate therein and extending into said socket in said boss, the socket having a cross sectional shape and area which corresponds to that of the lever.

5. In a handle assembly, the combination of a tubular mounting fixture provided with a cylindrical flange-like head notched to provide spaced stops, a handle having a cylindrical chambered body portion rotatable on said head, said body portion being provided with an internal boss pro-' vided with a centrally disposed non-circular socket, said boss being Joined to the wall of the body by a web constituting a reinforcement for the boss and a stop member coacting with said stops of said mounting fixture, and an angled lever having a shank portion disposed through said mounting fixture and fixedly secured within said socket.

6. In a handle assembly of the class described, the combination of a tubular mounting fixture provided with a chambered head peripherally notched to provide spaced stops, a handle having a body portion rotatable on said head and provided with an internal boss projecting centrally from the bottom thereof and having a non-circular socket, and a shank for said handle disposed through said mounting fixture and rotatable therein, said shank being disposed within said socket and retained therein by upsetting the walls of the socket upon the shank.

'1. In a handle assembly of the class described, the combination 01 a tubular mounting fixture provided with a chambered head peripherally notched to provide spaced stops, a handle having a body portion rotatable on said head and provided with an internal boss projecting centrally from the bottom thereof and having a non-circular socket. and a shank for said handle disposed through said mounting fixture and rotatable therein.

8. In an assembly of the type described, an actuating member including a handle and an actuating lever provided with a stop, a ferrule adapted to be slidingly positioned on said lever in non-rotative relation thereto and inassembled position to engage said stop, an escutcheon member including an externally threaded barrel having a reduced portion telescopingly engaging in said ferrule, said barrel being adapted to be mounted on a flushing tank wall and having limit means disposed on the exterior of the wall in mounted position of the barrel, said handle being rigidly secured to said lever and rotatable on element engageable with said limit means to determine the extent of its rotation on the escutcheon member.

9. In an assembly of the type described, an actuating member including a handle and an actuating lever positioned on said handle in nonrotative relation thereto, an escutcheon member including a barrel adapted to be mounted on a flushing tank wall and having a flange disposed on the exterior of the wall in mounted position of the barrel, said handle being rigidly secured to said lever and rotatable on said escutcheon member, said handle having an element engageable with said flange and said barrel having a restricted axial opening receiving said actuating member to determine the extent of the handle rotation on the escutcheon member.

10. In an assembly of the type described, an actuating member including a handle and an actuating lever provided with a stop, a ferrule adapted to be slidingly positioned on said lever in non-rotative relation thereto and in assembled position to engage said stop, an escutcheon member including a barrel having a reduced portion telescopingly engaging in said ferrule, said barrel being adapted to be mounted on a flushing-tank wall and having a flange disposed on the exterior of the wall in mounted position 0! the barrel, said handle being rigidly secured to said lever and rotatable on said escutcheon member, said handle having an element engageable with said flange and said barrel having means coacting with said actuating member to determine the extent of the handle rotation on the escutcheon member.

11. In combination with a flushing tank actuating lever, a base adapted to be flxedly secured to a flushing tank wall to extend therethrough and having a clamping nut threadedly receivable thereon interiorly of the wall to secure the base to the wall, said base rotatably receiving and limiting the degree of rotation of said lever, and a handle mounted on said base exteriorly of the wall for oscillatory movement with reference to the base, said handle being permanently secured to said lever whereby oscillatory movement of the handle imparts similar movement to the lever, said lever having means thereon to prevent separation of the lever and base, whereby said handle, base and lever may be mounted as a unit on said wall and secured thereon by said nut, said nut being removably engageable with said base by freely telescoping movement over said lever.

12. In combination with a flushing tank actuating lever, a base adapted to be flxedly secured to a flushing tank wall to extend therethrough and having clamping means engageable therewith interiorly of the wall to secure the base to the wall, said base rotatably receiving and limiting the degree of rotation of said lever, a handle mounted on said base exteriorly of the wall for oscillatory movement with reference to the base, said handle being permanently secured to said lever whereby oscillatory movement of the handle imparts similar movement to the lever, and means to prevent separation of the lever and base, whereby said handle, base and lever may be mounted as a unit on said wall and secured thereon by said clamping means, said clamping means being removably engageable with said base without obstruction by said lever.

13. In combination with a flushing tank actuating lever, a base adapted to be fixedly secured to a flushing tank wall to extend therethrough .and having clamping means engageable therewith said escutcheon member, said handle having an imparts similar movement to the lever, and means to prevent separation of the lever and base.

whereby said handle. base and lever may be. mounted as a unit on said wall and secured thereon by said clamping means.

' s Basin 9.. CRAM PTON. 

